I recently read a book called Reading Lolita in Tehran, by Azar Nafisi. This book is Nafisi’s memoir about life in Tehran during Iran’s revolution and their eight year war with Iraq. Nafisi was raised in Iran, but as a college student she studied literature in America. She returned to Iran after her studies in America and discovered that her beloved homeland was not the same as the one in which she was raised. Nafisi arrived when Iran was in the beginning stages of the revolution. She lived in Tehran for 18 years (1979-1980) before finally leaving the oppression of the Islamic Republic. It occurred to me, while reading the novel that the terrifying Islamic Regime that gain control of Iran was essentially bullying in its most pure form. Nafisi’s husband, points out: “They have the power to kill us or flog us, but all of this only reminds them... Read the Rest →
Once in a while we just get in the mood for chocolate. As we’ve gotten older our tastes have changed. When we were younger we loved anything chocolatey, all the time. Now, we enjoy desserts with flavors that we would have spurned in our youth. But, there are those times when you crave a chocolate dessert. Over the past two days it has become hot…sauna hot. We went from sleeping with our windows open to buttoning up the hatches and cranking the air. When craving chocolate in this weather there is nothing left to do but make chocolate ice cream. Creamy, smooth, simply delicious chocolate ice cream will be the only thing to hit the spot. We find ourselves, again, using an Alton Brown ice cream recipe for a good basic chocolate ice cream. But, if you want to get sexy and take it to orgasmic levels then try the... Read the Rest →
I grew up in New Jersery, a mere 8 miles from my Nonna (grandmother), but as anyone from the metropolitan area understands, 8 miles is a world away. And, a summer evening spent at Nonna’s was indeed a different world. I lived in the suburbs. Nonna lived in a city, in a neighborhood that was primarily populated by Italian immigrants and their families. I loved the brownstone homes, some of them attached, some divided ever so slightly by a narrow alley, but all with their windows open, hoping the evening breeze would blow through the lace curtains. In the summer most of the Italian families in the neighborhood transformed their small postage stamp backyards into vegetable garden jungles. Tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, eggplants, basil, parsley were planted and tended to with care. I can still recall the scent of the garden on a hot, humid evening, crickets chirping, lightening bugs glowing.... Read the Rest →
We’ve all heard it. As kids we say it and as adults we think it. “I scream. You scream. We all scream for ice cream.” We are sure that there are some folks out there who don’t care for ice cream. However, ice cream is by far one of our favorite desserts. So, as the weather continues to warm we would like to devote a post or two or three to our all time favorite summer treat: ice cream. Let us take this opportunity to define ice cream and a few other frozen treats. 1. Ice Cream: a frozen food containing cream or milk and butterfat, sugar, flavoring, and sometimes eggs. 2. Gelato: a rich ice cream, made with eggs and usually containing a relatively low percentage of butterfat. 3. Sorbet: a frozen food made from fruit puree that is whipped. 4. Sherbet: a frozen food made from fruit, milk... Read the Rest →
We’ve all heard it. As kids we say it and as adults we think it. “I scream. You scream. We all scream for ice cream.” We are sure that there are some folks out there who don’t care for ice cream. However, ice cream is by far one of our favorite desserts. So, as the weather continues to warm we would like to devote a post or two or three to our all time favorite summer treat: ice cream. Let us take this opportunity to define ice cream and a few other frozen treats. 1. Ice Cream: a frozen food containing cream or milk and butterfat, sugar, flavoring, and sometimes eggs. 2. Gelato: a rich ice cream, made with eggs and usually containing a relatively low percentage of butterfat. 3. Sorbet: a frozen food made from fruit puree that is whipped. 4. Sherbet: a frozen food made from fruit, milk... Read the Rest →
It’s totally way past Christmas, and New Year’s, but we have snow flurries outside, and I’m still playing catch up from Christmas. At least the tree is put away and the lights are down. I wouldn’t want you thinking I lived in a broken down trailer park and was living vicariously through some red-neck. It’s always the relaxing atmosphere after the holiday rush that makes these cold, long, luxurious days even more enjoyable. Anyhoo, growing up, I looked forward to eggnog. Not the spiked eggnog the old fogies such as Grandpa or the pot-bellied uncles used to guzzle down. But the thick, sludge-like eggnog that you would find at your local 7-11, Royal Farm store, or whatever 24-hour mart, and regular supermarkets. Well, y’all know I’m far, far away from anything remotely eggnog-ish and such, being in the other side of the world (not the boondocks, contrary to what you... Read the Rest →
Recently my husband and I toured the Dogfish Head Craft Brewery in Milton, Delaware. After the tour and beer tasting we purchased quite a few interesting brews. Upon returning home we experienced the heat wave that hit much of the US. Scorching heat is best served with an ice cold beer for the over 21 crowd or ice cream for the under 21 crowd. Why not combine the two for an amazing (adult) summer treat. Dogfish Head Brewery produces what are known as “craft” brews. To be defined as a craft brewer output must be 6 million barrels or less. This figure was only recently changed by the Brewer’s Association from 2 million barrels to 6 million barrels, allowing craft brewers to expand their production. Visit the Dogfish Head website and you will be able to read about the many varieties of beer that they produce, buy for the sake... Read the Rest →
